The Melbourne Storm, what a powerhouse team. Not much else to say.
Prodigious talents, unheralded players, the Storm know quality when they see it and it has brought them success.
The Storm see ok players and turn them into great players who win premierships.
The consistency of the Storm side in the last 12-15 years should be lauded, not withstanding the club success in 1999.
Plenty of good players have donned a Storm jersey but who makes the best ever side?
Here are our picks; the best 17 players to ever don a Storm jersey:
- Billy Slater – Another Queensland byproduct and regarded by many as the greatest fullback ever. A true clubman, a workhorse from the back, Slater was gifted in everything he did on the field.
2. Marcus Bai – A master of the darting runs, Bai was a quality winger at the Storm. Carrying the ball out of the backfield with power and strength took pressure off the forwards.
3. Will Chambers – Had his critics but was an elite centre for many years. Linked up well with team-mates, gave it his all and was a trooper for the club for years.
4. Greg Inglis – You could argue he was at his peak when he left to join Souths, but Inglis’ ability was tremendous and Storm fans were in awe of his raw ability, raw speed and tackle-busting prowess.
5. Matt King – Sideshow Bob always came to the party and was a cult hero at the Storm. His hair got the attention but his footy also impressed the fans with tries galore. 60 in 91 games.
6. Matt Geyer – He started out at the back but soon spread his talents across the park as a genuine utility. He could score a try, set a try up with a run or kick, kick goals and was a true leader.
7. Cooper Cronk – Played alongside Smith for many years in the Storm system. Nimble, crafty and both deceptively strong and quick, if the kicking didn’t pin you down or bamboozle you, then the running did.
8. Robbie Kearns – Just your typical worker prop through the middle, which every side needs. Joined the Storm upon their inception and never looked back.
9. Cameron Smith – A no brainer here. Most games by a player in history, accolades galore, club captain, able to control a game with ease, and not to mention seen by some as the greatest ever.
10. Glenn Lazarus – His third and final team but Lazarus was still at the top of his game. Just a worker and a basher of a prop through the middle. Took nonsense from no one and cartwheeled after the 1999 grand final win.
11. Ryan Hoffman – Every club needs a workhorse on the edge. A tireless, no-frills player and Hoffman was that for the Storm. Hit a hole with speed, loved a good try and was a Storm staple for a long time.
12. Stephen Kearney – A quality forward in his days as a player, Kearney’s ability with ball in hand and with offloading, often gave the team an extra layer to their attack.
13. Dallas Johnson – One of the most tireless players of the modern era, Johnson tackled all day, every day, and was the heart and soul of the pack and the team.
14. Scott Hill – A crafty utility, Hill was a quality ball-player and provided value galore from the lock position as an additional attacking threat. Became a fan favourite for his consistency.
15. Ryan Hinchcliffe – An unsung hero of the Storm side for all his years there. Versatile at hooker or lock, Hinchcliffe came on, busted his backside and was a popular team-mate and player for fans.
16. Jesse Bromwich – A hulking Kiwi prop, the Storm have seen their just rewards from this giant. Quick feet and a sneaky offload, his hard running and offloads often produce good opportunity.
17. Aaron Moule – He had just six seasons with the Storm but Moule was Mr Consistent. Played his part perfectly, could score a try and make an opportunity.
